Alito Confirmed 58 – 42

Samuel ALito was confirmed today to replace Sandar Day O’Connor as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The 58 – 42 vote was almost pureply a party-line vote, with Republican Senator Chafee the only GOP “No” vote and Democratic Senators Byrd, Conrad, Johnson, and Nelson (Nebraska) voting yes.

It was the most partisan vote on a Supreme Court nominee in modern history. Clarence Thomas, whose confirmation hearing were marred by accusations of sexual harassment, got more minority-party votes than the eminently-qualified, major-scandal-free Alito. The vote clealry demonstrates how partisan and hypocritical the debate has become over court nominees.